Who | Western Illinois vs. Drake
When | Tuesday, December 2, 6:30 P.M.
Where | Knapp Center | Des Moines, IA

Leathernecks Hit the Road to Des Moines 

Western Illinois now turns its attention to its next challenge, hitting the road for a Tuesday matchup against the Drake Bulldogs in Des Moines. The Leathernecks will look to build on their recent progress as they step into a tough road environment, facing a Drake squad that has established itself as one of the top programs in the Missouri Valley. Drake has lost numerous players from last year's NCAA Tournament team though they are still a formidable opponent. 

Western Illinois vs. St. Ambrose Recap
Western Illinois men's basketball topped St. Ambrose 89–73 on Sunday afternoon inside Western Hall.

The Leathernecks moved to 2–6 on the season behind a dominant offensive showing that included 48 points in the paint and 42 points from the bench. WIU used a strong second half, shooting 22-for-39 from the floor, to pull away after leading 34–26 at halftime.

Lucas Lorenzen led all scorers with 25 points on six made threes. Isaiah Griffin added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Karyiek Dixon provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting.

Makai Kvamme ran the offense with eight assists to go along with seven points and four rebounds. Francis Okwuosah finished with seven points and nine rebounds, and Antwaun Massey added seven boards as WIU outrebounded St. Ambrose 44–23.

Western Illinois' depth proved to be a difference maker, outscoring the Fighting Bees' bench 42–16 and producing 23 second-chance points on the strength of 20 offensive rebounds.

Finding the Right Starting Five
Western Illinois continued to shape its rotation, rolling out a starting group of Makai Kvamme, Lucas Lorenzen, Francis Okwuosah, Goanar Biliew, and Antwaun Massey. The unit showed encouraging signs, highlighted by Lorenzen's strong response to being placed back in the starting lineup. The junior delivered 25 points, knocked down 6 of 12 attempts from three, and added 4 rebounds.

Kvamme also continued to settle into his role as the team's primary facilitator. The freshman recorded 8 assists, the highest total by any Leatherneck this season, and looked increasingly comfortable orchestrating the offense.

Scouting Drake
Western Illinois now prepares for a tough road test against a Drake program that has established itself as one of the most consistent and dominant teams in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bulldogs are coming off a season in which they reached the NCAA Tournament, extending a stretch of postseason success that has defined the program in recent years.

This year's team looks much different following a major offseason transition. Former head coach Ben McCollum left for Iowa and took reigning MVC Player of the Year Bennett Stirtz with him, forcing Drake to rebuild much of its roster and identity. Even with the turnover, the Bulldogs have remained competitive and enter the matchup at 5-3 as their new pieces continue to settle in.

Drake is led by senior guard Jalen Quinn, who has taken command of the offense and averages 17.5 points per game. His scoring ability and poise make him the focal point of the Bulldogs' attack. Despite the roster changes, Drake still plays with the discipline, spacing, and toughness that have become hallmarks of the program, presenting Western Illinois with a challenging road matchup against a traditionally strong opponent.

Key's to the Matchup

• Win the perimeter battle by limiting Drake's three-point looks and establishing consistent outside shooting of their own.

• Control the tempo and value each possession by minimizing turnovers and preventing Drake from generating transition opportunities.

• Contain senior guard Jalen Quinn, who leads Drake with 17.5 points per game and drives their offensive production.

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